RV salesmen optimistic people will keep camping despite economy

Even though the economy is shaky and unemployment is on the rise, Mike Miles of Coleman’s Country Campers in Springfield is optimistic about the upcoming summer.

John Reynolds

Even though the economy is shaky and unemployment is on the rise, Mike Miles of Coleman’s Country Campers in Springfield is optimistic about the upcoming summer.

Miles, general manager of Coleman’s, said some people might change the way they camp -- by buying smaller campers or taking shorter trips, for instance -- but he thinks they will still have the urge to hook up the camper and hit the road.

After all, he says, that’s what happened last year – and that’s when the price of gas shot up to more than $4 a gallon.

“Last year, we saw customers buying campers they could pull with a smaller truck – like a half-ton pickup or a SUV,” Miles said. “And they were staying within 90 miles of their home for most of their camping.”

Coleman’s Country Campers is one of 12 RV dealers that will have campers on display at the 16th Annual Springfield RV and Recreation Show at the Prairie Capital Convention Center this weekend. Models will range from pop-up tent campers and lightweight trailers to fifth-wheels and motor homes.

Denny Johnston, an organizer of the show, acknowledged that the economy is on the forefront of many people’s minds. That’s one of the reasons the slogan for this year’s show is “Escape to the great outdoors.”

“The best stress relief in the world is sitting around a campfire on a warm summer night with our family,” Johnston said. “You get to enjoy what we call the RV lifestyle. It’s sort of a return to old-fashioned principles. You’re just not having dinner with your family, you’re having a whole day with them.”

To drive home the point, organizers of this year’s show are handing out free stress balls to the first 200 visitors on Saturday and Sunday.

All kidding aside, the RV industry hasn’t been immune to the faltering economy.

Also this month, the Monaco Coach Corp. announced it was sending termination notices to all but 150 of its 2,225 employees. Most of the workers were furloughed, the Portland Business Journal reported.

“I’d be a liar if I told you the RV industry hasn’t been hit,” Johnston said. “It’s lost four to five major manufacturers in this downturn of the economy. Having said that, the ones that are remaining are very solid, very strong.”

Campers on display at the show have a wide range when it comes to cost. Pop-up tent campers can run in the $6,500 range, while the large motor homes can exceed $100,000.

While all will be on display this weekend, Johnston said he expects dealers to bring a lot of the lightweight, smaller pull-behinds.

“The dealers bring what is selling,” Johnston said. “Class A motor homes are not selling as much as trailers, fifth-wheels or some kind of lightweight unit.”

Miles said he expects to make some sales during the show and also meet some people who might come into the dealership later this spring.

“We go there with the intent to sell some campers. We have special incentives during the show, and yes, you hope to walk away with a lot of contacts,” Miles said.

John Reynolds can be reached at (217) 788-1524 or john.reynolds@sj-r.com.

Cost: $6 for adults; $2 for children 7 to 12; no entry fee for children 6 and under

Special deals: Admission for seniors is $5 today. Coupons for $1 off admission are available at www.eventsltd.org. An advertisement on the State Journal-Register’s Website, www.sj-r.com, links online readers to the Events LTD Website.

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